Advancing into Tennessee from Florence, Alabama the Confederate Army of Tennessee (Lieut. Gen. John Bell Hood) created a diversion at Columbia, Tennessee as part of a maneuver to cross the Duck River upstream. After skirmishing with Forrest’s cavalry, Union forces under Maj. Gen. John Schofield occupied Columbia on November 24-25, 1864. Anticipating an assault from Hood, Schofield constructed earthworks south of town before withdrawing to Spring Hill on November 29.
Collierville-First Battle
Confederate forces of Brigadier-General James Chalmers advanced from Oxford, Mississippi to attack the Federal garrison at Collierville. The Confederate force